New parking rules for district centres

New short-term free parking and parking charges began this week on district car parks.

Blanket free car parking has gone on selected town centre car parks, replaced by either two or three-hour stays, after which charges will be enforced.

Three car parks in Shaw, Chadderton and Lees will also have business permits for companies which can show a need to use the car parks.

Oldham Council says the aim is to maintain short- term parking for visitors and residents, to encourage more use of the district centres, and to stop long-stay parkers hitting turnover of spaces.

All the districts will still have a mix of short and long-stay car parks, and the experimental traffic order is expected to earn £100,000 for the council in the first year.

The new charges were part of the council’s 2010/11 budget proposals.

The car parks where there will be a maximum period of two hours and no return in four hours, are Smithy Lane; Hare and Hounds; and King George V playing fields, all in Uppermill.

Car parks with three- hour short stays are Uppermill Museum; Warrington Street and New

Street, Lees; Chadderton Town Hall and Victoria Street/Bentley Street, Chadderton; Royton Precinct; Shaw Baths, Market Place, Westway and Milne Street, all Shaw.

Business permits will be available for New Street, Lees; Victoria Street, Chadderton; and Shaw Baths.

All other car parks will be long stay.